A FORMER civil servant who worked for the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner has been jailed for repeatedly engaging in sexual communications with two underage 'girls'.

Jason Rory Samuel Mumford, aged 47, thought he was messaging a 12-year-old girl named 'Toby' and a 13-year-old girl named 'Paris' - sending them videos of himself performing sexual acts and also inviting them to perform lewd acts on themselves. However, Mumford was actually talking to police officers from two separate operations running decoy profiles.

The father-of-two pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, one count of attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, one count of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity and one count of attempting to cause a female aged 13 or over to engage in a penetrative sexual activity and one count of attempting to cause a female aged 13 or under to engage in a penetrative sexual activity.

All the offences took place in Dorset between September 15, 2020 and October 14, 2020.

Prosecuting, John Carmichael, told Bournemouth Crown Court that Paris was a decoy set up by the Metropolitan Police which Mumford started talking to in September of last year.

Mr Carmichael read out the sexual nature of Mumford's comments to Paris to the court and said he sent pictures of his penis and a seven second video of himself performing a lewd act, which was 'probably taken at his home address'.

The court heard that the exchanges became increasingly graphic and included Mumford repeatedly asking Paris to go to the toilet and show him her knickers.

Mr Carmichael said that the other operation, by West Midlands Police, was very similar, with an officer adopting the persona of a 12-year-old girl named Toby.

Mumford, of Bottels Road, Warboys, in Huntingdonshire, was said to have also engaged in conversation of a sexual nature with Toby and also sent a short video of himself performing a sexual act.

Mitigating, Jim Osborne, said Mumford pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and fully cooperated with police on the first occasion.

He said: "He does recognise that he's got a problem.

"He has taken steps to address his offending behaviour."

"These offences have had a significant impact on his life. He had to move out of his family home where he lived for 13 years"

Mr Osborne told the court that Mumford's 20-year marriage with his wife was in 'jeopardy' as a result and that the pair have only just started to talk to each other again.

"He also lost his job as a civil servant for the Police and Crime Commissioner."

Judge Brian Forster QC said his job with the police and crime commissioner made it 'even more surprising that he committed these offences'.

He said: "Jason Mumford, you have previously pleaded guilty to an indictment which contains serious sexual offences.

"You entered an internet chatroom which is primarily used by young people.

"These children were police decoys which were aged 13 and 12. Despite being aware of their age, you engaged with them.

"The purpose for this at the time was for your own sexual gratification.

"Although decoy identities were used by police you thought you were communicating with actual children.

"I have carefully considered the pre-sentence report and have listened with care to submissions made on your behalf.

"At the time you were working in an important position in public service."

Mumford was sentenced to an immediate 32-month custodial sentence and has been made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, and ordered to pay £190 Victim Surcharge.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset gave the following statement:

"Jason Mumford previously worked for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset (OPCC) in a non-public facing role.

"The offences were not related in any way to his role, nor carried out on OPCC premises.

"Immediately following his arrest last year Mr Mumford was suspended.

He resigned from his role upon being charged."